CALGARY – The University of Lethbridge Pronghorns won their sixth straight Canada West championship Sunday afternoon with a convincing 41-0 win over the Alberta Pandas at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium.
In the early game, the host Dinos scored a try in the final minute to upend the Victoria Vikes 20-15 for their first-ever playoff victory in CIS competition.
GOLD MEDAL GAME: Lethbridge 41 Alberta 0
The Lethbridge Pronghorns found the end zone just 40 seconds into the game and rode that momentum to a 41-0 win over the Alberta Pandas to win their sixth consecutive Canada West women’s rugby banner.
Canada West rookie of the year
Kayla Moleschi broke through the Pandas’ defensive line right off the opening kickoff, racing to the goal line to give the Horns an early lead – and they never looked back.
The Horns maintained their pressure for most of the first half, earning a penalty goal try for
Laura Murphy-Burke eight minutes in. She split the uprights to make it 10-0, part of an 11-point day for her kicking the ball that included four converts.
Tiffany Wideen scored a try just over the halfway mark of the first half, and
Juhee Thompson notched a buzzer-beater for the Horns in the waning moments of the opening period to give Lethbridge a 20-0 lead at halftime.
Lethbridge would add three more converted tries in the second half. Moleschi added her second of the day, while
Brandi Van Eeuwen and
Genevieve Ahart added one each to make the final 41-0.
The Pandas did have several chances within 10 metres of the Lethbridge goal line, but the Horns defence stood up and turned over the ball each time to keep the Pandas out of the end zone.
Following the game, the Canada West all-stars and award winners were announced, with both Lethbridge and Alberta represented well. Lethbridge’s all-stars include Brandi Van Eeuwen (prop), Kelsey Willoughby and Juhee Thompson (back row), fly half Murphy-Burke, and Moleschi and Cassandra Orr (back three). Alberta was represented on the all-star team by hooker Carmen Hobbs, lock Louise ChaVerie, centre Chelsea Guthrie, and Alanna Fittes from the back three.
The Horns also took both major player awards in the 2011 season, with Moleschi taking home rookie-of-the-year honours while Willoughby was named the Canada West MVP.
Lethbridge qualifies for the CIS Women’s Rugby Championship hosted by Trent University in Peterborough, Ont. Nov. 3-6 as the lone Canada West representative.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Half
LETH – Kayla Moleschi try(Laura Murphy-Burke convert), 7-0 LETH
LETH – Laura Murphy-Burke penalty goal, 10-0 LETH
LETH –Tiffany Wideen try, 15-0 LETH
LETH – Juhee Thompson try, 20-0 LETH
2nd Half
LETH – Kayla Moleschi try (Laura Murphy-Burke convert), 27-0 LETH
LETH – Brandi Van Eeuwen try (Laura Murphy-Burke convert), 34-0 LETH
LETH – Genevieve Ahart try (Laura Murphy-Burke convert), 41-0 LETH
